Method for producing shrunken pilfer-proof neck labels on containers

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed sets forth a method and machine for forming a sleeve of a shrinkable, cellular polymeric material from a predecorated web. The web is processed to provide (1) a partial-depth slit along the longitudinal dimension, and (2) cross-dimension pleats. Predecorated shrunken neck labels are formed from the web for overlying the neck and closure of the bottle and including a pilfer-proof feature. Such a label is formed from the processed web by cutting a blank having the cross pleats therein and winding the blank on a mandrel to overlap the ends and seam the overlap to make a sleeve. The sleeve is stripped onto the top neck and over the closure of a bottle at room temperature to a label position and shrunken to a snug fit, the pleats absorbing wrinkles that occur in shrinking the material onto a &#34;cold&#34; bottle. 
     The disclosure includes a novel machine for making the sleeve from a plastic web and placing it on the bottle. There is disclosed a combination of novel devices in the machine including a slitting device, pleating device, feed and winding device, hot air heating device for sealing the seam of a sleeve and for pressing the seam, and an article handling mechanism for indexing the bottles coaxially with a sleeve and transferring the sleeve over the bottle to label position at production rates. With the sleeves of shrinkable label material thusly placed, the bottles are carried through a device for heating the label sufficiently to shrink it to final form. There is also disclosed the step and means for treating the bottle with adhesive before transferring the label sleeve onto it, providing an adhesive bond between the neck of the bottle and the shrunken label sleeve which enhances the function of the pilfer-proof label.

The invention relates to method for making labels for containers ofshrinkable, polymeric material that are predecorated in web form andtransferred onto an ambient temperature container and heat shrunken ontothe container for snugly encircling the neck and closure portions of thecontainer. Preferably, in the case of bottles having screw caps, forexample, the shrunken label will also include a pilfer-proof feature ofthe type that visually signifies tampering with or initial removal ofthe closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed in my earlier-filed co-pending U.S. application,Ser. No. 514,370 filed Oct. 15, 1974, (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,292)entitled "Pilfer-Proof Neckband for a Bottle" provided a need for aproduction machine and process to produce the labelled bottles.

Since the nature of the product calls for shrinking a cellular polymericmaterial that is oriented for contraction upon sufficient heating onto aglass bottle, for example, that is filled with a product such as food,beverage or beer, the encircling label needs to be contracted onto arelatively cold bottle without benefit of preheat. The cellularmaterial, on the other hand, is a heat insulator and has a relativelylow thermal transmission rate through the material from its outside toinside surfaces. In prior processes, such as my U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,767,496and 3,802,942, the cellular polymeric material has been subjected toheating on opposite surfaces by preheating the base article to which theencircling form of the material is applied to a temperature of 225° F ormore. When applyig the encircling form of cellular, shrinkable materialon capped bottles containing food products or the like, it should beapparent that preheating of this nature is impractical, and the bottlesneed be at ambient temperature when the shrinking by heat takes place.This requires shrinking the material onto the "cold" bottle by applyingheat sufficient for shrinking it from the external surface. In so doing,the insulating effect of the cellular plastic invariably createswrinkles in the encircling material as it is shrunken. When using thematerial as a label or for decorative purposes on the bottle, the randomand uncontrolled wrinkling in the material as it shrinks produces anunsatisfactory appearance of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, a practical method is devised for applying ahollow tubular sheath or sleeve of a shrinkable organic thermoplasticmaterial, especially of cellular material, over the neck and closureskirt portions of a cold bottle and controlling the wrinkles of theproduct resulting in a superior labelled product from the standpoint ofappearance and performance. The method also provides for making theproduct pilfer-proof by partially slitting the thickness of the materialalong a line that will be along the annular perimeter of the skirt edgeof the bottle closure, and opening the bottle by unscrewing the cap ortampering with it causes a visual sign by the severing of the label onthis annular score line. To assure the sleeve label is firmly on theneck of the bottle and such line severing will occur, the inventionprovides for adhesively securing the neck overlying portion of the labelonto the bottle where necessary. In the preferred form of the method,the bottle neck is pretreated with an adhesive. One convenient adhesiveis an aqueous emulsified type which dries to a tacky condition on theglass. The shrunken sleeve is adhered to the neck of the bottle similarto the action of a pressure sensitive type adhesive, thereby bondingthat portion of the shrunken label firmly onto the bottle surface.Twisting of the label portion over the cap skirt assures severing thelabel along the line of the partial-depth slit dividing it into upperand lower portions on the closure skirt and bottle neck, respectively.

The present invention also provides a machine capable of automaticproduction for making the sleeves of the shrinkable material from apredecorated or preprinted web supply and assembling the sleeves ontothe upper ends of the capped bottles handled in the machine andregistered thereby. The bottles receiving the label sleeves aredischarged from the machine and conveyed in a heating device that willapply the proper heating for shrinking the labels in place to completethe package.

In the machine, subcombination structures provide the following:

1. The web supply is processed through a knife device making alongitudinal line, partial-depth slit in the material.

2. The web is moved past a device for forming crossflutes or pleats inthe material at spaced intervals so that each sleeve length taken fromthe web will have two or more pleats therein.

3. The web is then moved onto a feed device which measures a length ofthe material on a drum surface and a rotary cutter severs the length onthe drum into a label blank. The drum carries the leading end of theblank into engagement with a rotary mandrel that has a cylindricalwinding surface somewhat less in peripheral dimension than the length ofthe blank.

4. The rotary mandrel mechanism is provided with a vacuum at theperiphery to hold the label blank in place, and a mechanism operates themandrel to rotate it about its longitudinal axis for wrapping or windingthe blank strip thereon. Several mandrels are carried on a rotary turretof the machine and each mandrel unit includes a hot air nozzle systemfor heat welding or bonding the overlapped ends of the blank on themandrel. Hot air is furnished by the nozzle which extends the length ofthe overlapping seam of the blank at a time just before the oppositeends --the leading and trailing ends of the blank --are about to overlieone another. The heat is sufficient upon engagement of the overlappedportions to join or heat seal the material at a side seam and form asleeve.

5. A blank guide block is employed on the machine and it situatedadjacent the path of the mandrels in turret rotation. The guide blockface is perforated and parallels the path of the mandrels beyond thefeed drum. A suction is pulled at the guide block in a direction awayfrom the mandrel, and during travel past the perforated guide surfacethe free end portion of the blank (the portion not wrapped on thesurface of the mandrel) is controlled.

6. A press roll device is situated in the path of the mandrels justbeyond the guide block for an engagement with the seam of the sleeve onthe mandrel for pressing that heated area of the sleeve, and, if needbe, somewhat compressing the overlapping thickness of material to smoothout or "feather" the seam on the label.

7. The machine includes a bottle handling apparatus which times theentry of bottles into the machine and conveys them into an indexedco-axial position of registry under a mandrel. The mandrel deviceincludes an axial stripping mechanism which is operated to drive thesleeve from the mandrel and over the bottle cap and neck to its labelposition.

8. The machine includes with the bottle timing device an applicatordevice for applying a quantity of adhesive to the bottle neck as itenters the machine.

9. A drive system operates the various devices synchronously, where needbe, to perform a continuous production of the machine.

Although the method herein described are characterized in terms of thepreferred embodiment, namely, the production of a shrink labelled glassbottle, the invention may be utilized in forming a sleeve of thematerial and applying and shrinking it over a variety of articles,including for example plastic bottles, cans, jars, tumblers orcontainers of various types and forms.

Various modifications for utilization of the machine for the productionof various articles or products thereon in performing the method willundoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art. Although a preferredembodiment is herein disclosed, such disclosure is in no way intended aslimiting the invention beyond the scope set out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the machine of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the portion of the machine withparts broken away.

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the remaining portion of themachine and is a companion view to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the machine.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing, in perspective, showing the drive systemfor operating the various components of the machine.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view illustrating the mandrel drive and camassembly and the vacuum manifold.

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 7--7 on FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mandrels and press-rollmechanism for completing the vertical seams on the plastic sleeves madeon the mandrels.

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view of mandrel mechanism of themachine.

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 10--10 on FIG.3.

FIG. 11 is a sectional plan view taken along line 11--11 on FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 12--12 on FIG.3.

FIG. 13 is a sectional plan view taken along line 13--13 on FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken along line14--14 on FIG. 3.

FIG. 15 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 15--15 on FIG.3

FIG. 16 is a sectional plan view taken along line 16--16 on FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line17--17 on FIG. 16, illustrating the partialdepth cutting position of theknife element on the web.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the hot air nozzle for heat sealing theoverlapped ends of a blank on the mandrel.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the drivemeans for rotating the mandrel.

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the stripper mechanism forremoving a sleeve from the mandrel and placing it over an underlyingbottle.

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of a label blank that is scored andpleated.

FIG. 22 is a fragmented sectional elevational view taken along line22--22 on FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a fragmented sectional elevational view taken along line23--23 on FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of a bottle illustrating theapplication of a spot of adhesive material onto the neck surface.

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a bottle shownon FIG. 24 with a label sleeve of heat shrinkable, cellular polymericmaterial assembled to label position prior to shrinking.

FIG. 26 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the bottle andlabel of FIG. 25 undergoing heat treatment for shrinking the labelsleeve onto the bottle closure and neck.

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of a label shrunken onto a cold bottleillustrating the effect of random wrinkling of the label withoutemploying the beneficial features of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a top plan view of a label shrunken onto a cold bottle underthe present invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the bottle and shrunken label madeaccording to the invention.

FIG. 30 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section,of the bottle and closure in use and employing the visiblepilfer-proofing feature of the invention.

FIG. 31 is a top plan view of a bottle illustrating a second embodimentof the form of label utilized in the invention, the label appearingthereon before it is shrunken by heating.

FIG. 32 is a top plan view of the bottle of FIG. 31 after the label isshrunken thereon.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE

The machine comprises several components connected together to operateas a unit for the production of plastic sleeves shrunken over the neckand closure of a container, such as a bottle. The example of the presentdisclosure is a glass bottle 10, such as shown on FIG. 24. Bottle 10 isprovided with a conventional screw cap 11 which includes an annularskirt portion 12. The cap skirt has a lower terminal edge 13 thatencircles the upper part of the neck 14 of bottle 10.

The object of the invention is to apply a plastic label covering on theneck area 14, or a portion thereof, and cap skirt 12. This is done byfirst forming a (preferably) pre-decorated, shrinkable, foamed plasticsleeve from a web of oriented polystyrene plastic, for example, on theorder of 10 to 20 thousandths of an inch in thickness. The plastic web15 is brought to the machine as a roll and mounted on a conventionalsupply reel (not shown). A multicolor decoration 16 is pre-printedrepeatedly along one surface of the supply web 15. The print ordecoration 16 for a label is contained over a longitudinal span on web15 a bit less than the length dimension of a blank 18 (FIG. 21) to becut from web 15. There are spaced indicia (not shown) printed along thelengthwise dimension of a blank 18. Each decoration copy is placed onthe web between these indicia marks. The width dimension 19 of web 15(or blank 18) is equal to the height dimension of the label 20 after itis shrunken on the bottle 10 (FIG. 29). The material of the supply rollof web 15 is oriented (stretched) in the longitudinal dimension of theweb. There is little or no orientation in the material in the crossdimension 19.

BOTTLE HANDLING

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, from a supply of bottles 10 and supply ofplastic web 15, the plastic labels are formed and assembled on thebottles as the latter pass through the machine. A bottle infeed conveyor21 advances a line of bottles 10 into a right-hand infeed worm 22 whichincludes lands 23 which orient the bottles and space them at propercenter-to-center distance on conveyor 21 (see FIG. 2). The right-handworm is driven in synchronized rotation with a star wheel 24 havingupper and lower stars which define peripherally-spaced bottle pockets 26contoured to receive bottles 10 in the proper orientation. The stars arefastened on a vertical shaft 25 driven clockwise (FIG. 2) and timed withworm 22 by suitable interconnecting drive means (not shown). Bottles 10are received between lands 23 of worm 22 and held in a line by sideguide rail 27 which terminates adjacent star 24. As seen on FIG. 2,bottle 10 is moved into a pocket 26 on star 24 just as it leaves rail 27and advances with conveyor 21 into engagement with the arcuate guideplate 28 supported on vertical posts 29 and 30 attached to the deckplate 31 of the machine frame. Plate 28 transfers bottle 10 fromconveyor 21 with star pocket 26, over a dead plate 32 and intoengagement with a second arcuate guide plate 33 fastened on post 34anchored on the machine deck 31. Guide plate 33 includes upper and lowerarcuate members whose curvature is in a reversing arcuate direction fromthe curvature of guide plate 28. Thusly, as guide 33 engages bottle 10it is removed from star pocket 26 and inserted into a second star wheel35 at one of its peripheral pockets 36. Star wheel 35 is comprised ofupper and lower stars fastened on vertical shaft 37 (FIG. 2) drivencounter clockwise and timed with the first star wheel 24. While in apocket 36 of star wheel 35, bottle 10 is carried along arcuate guidemember 33 to a position on the periphery whereat bottle 10 is engaged bythe pocketed bottle positioning wheel of the turret assembly comprisedof upper and lower pocketed rotary members 38 and 39, respectively. (Seealso FIG. 4). The upper member 38 has arcuate neck pockets 40 spacedabout its periphery at equal intervals for engaging bottle 10 at itslower neck region. Lower member 39 has arcuate, shaped body pockets 41spaced about its periphery on a common center axis with a correspondingneck pocket 40 to receive and engage the body of a bottle 10. Themandrels of the turret assembly, to be presently described, are co-axialwith their respective pockets 40, 41 of the bottle positioning wheel 38,39. The upper and lower rotary members 38, 39 are interleaved with theperipheral region of the second upper and lower stars 35 in a somewhatmeshing, overlapping relationship. A bottle 10 in pocket 36 will beguided into the neck and body pockets 40 and 41 in this overlappingregion of the two and carried to engagement with a third arcuate guidemember 42 mounted on the frame opposite positioning wheel members 38, 39and interposed vertically therebetween for engaging the bottle along itsbody wall surface opposite pocket 41 of the bottle positioning wheel.The wheel members 38, 39 are rotated in a clockwise direction about thevertical axis of shaft 43. During bottle movement along the arcuatelycurved guide surface 42 of said guide member by the bottle positioningwheel, the neck and closure vertical axis of bottle 10 is maintained inalignment with the vertical axis of the mandrels on the overhead turret.Such span of movement defines the label transfer station for assemblingthe sleeve label telescopically over the neck and cap skirt of bottle 10in a manner more particularly hereinafter described. The bottle neck andcap, having received a label sleeve element 18 thereon during movementalong arcuate guide 42 (label transfer station), bottle 10 is thereafterintroduced into one of the pockets 44 on the third star wheel means 45comprised of upper and lower stars which mesh with the pockets of thepositioning wheel members 38, 39. The upper and lower stars of wheelmeans 45 are fastened on a vertical shaft 47, which is driven counterclockwise (FIG. 2) in timed relation to wheels 38, 39. A reversingcurvature guide member 46 is fastened on vertical posts (not shown)anchored on the frame deck 31 and defines an arcuate reversing path forremoval of bottle 10 from pocket 40, 41 and inserting bottle 10 into apocket 44. A fourth star wheel means 48 is fastened on vertical shaft 49and has peripheral pockets 50 for receiving bottle 10 as it moves alongthe terminal end 51 of guide surface 46. Fourth star wheel 48 is drivenin a clockwise direction and carries the bottle 10 along the arcuatepath and onto an exit conveyor 53. The shaft 49 is timed from shaft 47to provide a meshing relationship of the pockets 44 and 50 of the thirdand fourth star wheel means, respectively. There is a stationaryhorizontal bottom dead plate 32 of nylon or suitable plastic of lowfriction material (FIG. 4) supported on the machine deck 31. The deadplate member 32 extends over the reversing path of bottles 10 throughthe inlet and exit star wheels and the intermediately located bottlepositioning wheel. The bottles travelling in this path slide over thebottom dead plate 32 for support while propelled by the pocketed wheels24, 35, 38, 45 and 48, respectively (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Exit conveyor 53 carries the serial file of bottles 10 with neck labels18 in position thereon for shrinking into a heating device 54,represented somewhat schematically by the tunnel structure on FIG. 1.Conveyor 53 traverses the length of the heating device 54 wherein heatmay be supplied by various known devices. One form of heater that may beused is an elongated bank of infrared heating units. For bestdistribution of heat, the bottles may be rotated during travel throughthe tunnel by use of known conveyor devices providing such rotation.

Another form of heating device suitable for use in the invention iscirculated hot air. In this form, the bottles may be conveyedlongitudinally of the device 54 without rotation, the heat beingsupplied by tranversely circulated hot air aimed at the label region,and oriented by louvers or baffling in the air circulation system of theheater so as to concentrate the hot air at the total label area or applya differential of the heat to concentrate heat more heavily on the seamarea, e.g. the embodiment of FIGS. 28 and 29. The air temperature mayvary depending upon the composition of the polymeric material, itsthickness in the label and the time available in the tunnel to completethe shrinking of the label sleeve onto the bottle neck and cap. Thevariables in the heating device will be adjusted to the nature of theproduct in the bottle so that the product will not be detrimentallyaffected.

The conveyor 53 next transfers the finished, labelled bottles, such asshown on FIG. 29, to a location and means for packaging, casing andshipment or storage.

WEB SLITTING DEVICE

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 15-17, the flexible web 15 is furnished froma supply roll (not shown) in an on-edge, vertical attitude and is reevedover freely rotatable idler roll 55 and onto a back-up roll 56 of theweb slitting device. Roll 56 is a cylinder that is rotatable on verticalshaft 57. Shaft 57 is supported at its opposite ends in an upperaperture 58 in horizontal top plate 59 of the assembly and in avertically aligned aperture 60 in horizontal bottom plate 61. Top plate59 and bottom plate 61 are rigidly connected by the vertical end plate62 fastened to each by the cap screws 63. Shaft 57 has end bearingsleeves 64 pressed thereon and sleeve 56 is rotatable about shaft 57 onball bearings 65 in the races 66 fastened at the ends of the rollcylinder 56.

The roll cylinder 56 includes the annular rectangular-like groove 67 atthe preselected elevation thereon to cooperate with knife blade 68 ofthe device. Knife blade 68 is fastened on a T-block holder 69 by screwmeans 73. Holder 69 slides in the horizontal C-block 70 having elongatedguide surfaces 71 and 72 at the open end of the C configuration. Endplates 74 and 75, respectively, have adjusting screws 76 and 77 threadedtherein in alignment with each other, and the inner ends of screws 76,77 bear against the opposite end faces of block holder 69 carrying knifeblade 68. By counter rotating screws 76, 77, blade 68 may be shiftedtoward or away from groove 67 on the cylinder roll. The position ofblade 68 is set by locking nuts 78 threaded on each of the end adjustingscrews 76, 77. The blade holder block 69 is held forward against guidesurfaces 71 and 72 of C-block 70 by the pair of compressed springs 79retained in recesses on the back side of C-block 70. Accordingly, knifeblade 68 is yieldably mounted in the assembly and is flexible in theoutward direction. Should an obstruction, other than the web material,engage the knife blade in operation, it may yield away from roller 56.The C-block 70 holding the knife assembly is adjustable vertically onthe attachment to vertical end plate 62 by bolts 81 in the elongatedslots 82 and blade 68 is thusly positioned vertically to alignhorizontally with groove 67 of the cylinder roll.

In accordance with the invention, the knife 68 imparts a score line 84weakening the material of web 15 at that line extending in the runningdirection of the web. The score line 84 is shown on FIG. 22 in anenlargement and is characterized as a partial-depth slit in the plasticmaterial from which the label blank 18 (FIG. 21) is made. The score line84 extends lengthwise of the blank 18 and parallel to the longitudinalside 17 of the blank. The web stock 15 is scored on the surface oppositedecoration 16 (FIGS. 1 and 29), whereby the score line 84 will be on thesurface of the label next to the bottle and will not be readily visiblein the label until the cap is turned and the label severed along theline of weakening at the slit 84.

WEB PLEATING DEVICE

Another important assembly on the machine is the means for providingplural pleats across the web so that two or more such pleats appear ineach of the label blanks. Referring first to FIGS. 21 and 23, the pleats85 are represented as a crush or v-fold of the material as shown on therepresentative cross-section of a pleat on FIG. 23. The pleats 85 appearacross the width direction of the label blank 18 and are generally, asshown on FIG. 21, parallel to the width dimension, (edge 19), of blank18. However, the pleats need not parallel edge 19.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 12-14, the web 15 is fed from the slittingdevice over a pull roll 86 that is driven forward (counter clockwise onFIG. 3) for pulling web 15 through the slitting knife 68 and roller 56,just described. Pull roll 86 is fastened onto a vertical shaft 87mounted in ball bearings 88 and 89 at the opposite axial ends of pullroll 86 (FIG. 14). Bearing 88 is retained in a seat aperture 90 in thetop plate 91 of the roller assembly. Top plate 91 is spaced from thebottom plate 92 by four hollow tube supports 93 and bolts 94 extendthrough each of the supports 93 to fasten the two plates 91, 92together. Bottom plate 92 is welded to angle brackets 95 which arewelded onto the top side of the elevated deck 96 of the machine frame.The lower ball bearing 89 is retained by a seat aperture 97 in bottomplate 92 and in vertical axial alignment with top aperture 90. Pull roll86 operates in conjunction with a second roll 98 mounted on verticalshaft 99 which has a top ball bearing 100 retained in an aperture seat101 in top plate 91, and a bottom ball bearing 102 retained in acorrespondingly vertically aligned aperture seat 103 in bottom plate 92.The two vertical shafts 87, 99 are driven in opposite directions ofrotation through the drive gear 104 fastened on shaft 99. Shaft 87 isconnected to the power train, to be described later herein.

From rolls 86, 98, the web 15 enters between pleating roll 106 andback-up roll 107 (FIGS. 12 and 13). Pleating roll 106 is fastened onvertical shaft 108 rotatably mounted in bearings 109 and 110 in alignedseat apertures in the top plate 59 and bottom plate 61, respectively,which is also the frame connecting means for the web slitting device,earlier described herein. The plates 59 and 61 are rigidly connected byhollow cylinder columns 111 each having a bolt 112 through the columnand the plates 59, 61. A pleating tool 113 is fastened in place on theface of the pleating roller at a peripherally axially extending slot 116formed on the cylindrical surface of roller 106 by the several screws115. Pleating tool 113, in one embodiment of the invention, comprises anelongated U-shaped insert element having outwardly directed,spaced-apart tips 114. The extent to which tips 114 project radiallyoutwardly from the cylindrical surface of roll 106 will determine thedepth and contour of the pleats 85 to be formed in the web of thematerial 15. Pleats 85 are formed from the side of the web opposite theside on which decoration 16 is printed. As may be seen on FIGS. 12 and13, there is a relief cut at 117 on the outer edge of tips 114 along thecylindrical surface of roll 106 to accomodate the compressed webmaterial in forming the pleats. Similarly, between tips 114 and alongthe tool there is a relief or recess area into which pleated plastic ofthe web may deform in the pleating operation.

Back-up roll 107 is formed of a steel cylindrical core 107a covered witha uniform depth layer of rubber 107 or like yieldable material. Roll 107is attached on vertical shaft 118 that is mounted by ball bearing 119 intop plate 59 and ball bearing 120 in bottom plate 61 of the framestructure. Roll 107 is freely rotatable and is driven by nip engagementwith the surface of the web 15 travelling between rolls 106 and 107. Thecircumference of pleating roll 106 is equal to the length dimension 17of a label blank 18. In the example on the drawings (FIGS. 12, 13, 21and 28), the label stock is cross pleated in closely spaced pairs of thepleats 85 and each blank is severed from the web approximately midway inbetween the pleats so that a pleat 85 appears near the leading edge andthe trailing edge of the blank 18. (See FIG. 21). After the leading andtrailing ends of the blank are overlapped and seamed to a hollow sleeveform, the pleats 85 are located somewhat in the fashion represented onFIGS. 28 and 29. This represents the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

By revising the configuration of pleating roll 106, a second embodimentof the invention is practical. This is shown in result on FIGS. 31 and32, whereat pleats 85 are approximately diametrically disposed on thesleeve (FIG. 31) and when shrunken on the bottle neck and cap (FIG. 32)appear on diametrically opposite sides of the bottle. To achieve thissecond embodiment, two single tipped pleating tools are fastened on theperiphery of the pleating roll 106 at a greater circumferential spacing.Since the circumference of the roll 106 is approximately equal to a cutlabel blank length, location of the pleating tools or tips on the rollsurface and spacing between tips, as well as number of tips used,provides for a wide variation in the array of multiple pleats that maybe formed in the label stock from which label blanks are to be formed.

LABEL BLANK FEED DRUM

After the scored and pleated web 15 leaves roller 106, it is fed over afeed drum 121 which controls the web while label blank lengths, such aslabel blank 18 (FIG. 21), are cut in succession.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 10 and 11, feed drum 121 is fastened onto shaft122 and rotatably mounted by roller bearings 123 and 124. The feed drumis supported in a separate frame from the slitting and pleating devices.The support for the feed drum is comprised of the top member 125 and aspaced lower member 126 held together by hollow cylindrical standards127 and bolts 128 extending through members 125, 126 and standard 127.The lower member 126 is fastened to vertical brackets 129 (FIG. 3),which are bolted to the deck 31 of the machine frame. The vertical legof brackets 129 places feed drum 121 at the proper elevation withrespect to the mandrel turret. Feed drum 121 is rotated by driving shaft122 through gear 130 on its lower end in mesh with drive gear 131 on thelower stub shaft 132. Shaft 132 is parallel with shaft 122 which ismounted on roller bearings 133 and 134 housed, respectively, in the topmember 125 and lower member 126.

A vacuum manifold member 135 is fastened onto top member 125 and fixedin stationary position. Vacuum manifold 135 includes an arcuate manifoldchamber 136 machined as an open arcuate slot along the bottom face ofthe manifold for selective connection with the four vertical passages,137a-137d (FIG. 11) in drum 121 disposed radially inwardly from the drumsurfaces. The passages are each formed by a tube insert 138 placed in avertical bore parallel to the axis of the drum and provided with alongitudinal slot 139 facing a series of radial vacuum ports 140 drilledradially inwardly from the face of drum 121. The passages 140 connect tothe manifold chamber 136 through the tube slot 139 and vertical passages137 in response to rotation of drum 121 along the underside of manifoldchamber 136. Vacuum is connected to manifold chamber 136 by pipe 141threaded into the top inlet port of the manifold member.

Referring to FIG. 11, the vertical passages 137 are operable forconnection to the vacuum manifold in pairs and are located approximatelyone quarter circle apart in drum 121. As web 15 is approximately at atangent point with the face of drum 121, the vertical passage (137b onFIG. 11) moves into a connection with the forward end of manifoldchamber 136, which applies a vacuum at the vertical row of ports 140 onthe face of the drum holding the web onto the drum. Through thetransmission gearing, hereinafter described, and circumference of drumface 121, the peripheral speed of drum face 121 exceeds the speed of web15 as the latter is advancing from the pleating roll. As the ports 140at 137b advance toward the position shown for 137a, the drum face 121slips on the web and the vacuum applied pulls web 15 taut to the rotarycutter. After a cut is made by cutter 142, the cut piece travels withdrum face 121 and separates the trailing end of the label blank from theleading end of web 15.

Rotary cutter 142 is comprised of a cylinder 143 fastened on lower stubshaft 132 and an upper stub shaft 144, each stub shaft having end caps145 holding the cutter cylinder 143 for rotation of the cutter on thecommon central axis of stub shafts 144 and 132. Cylinder 143 includes avertical knife blade 146 on a milled vertical slot in the cylinder.Blade 146 is backed by screws 147 and held in the cylinder by screws 148through slots in the knife blade 146. The tip of blade 146 projectsbeyond the face of cylinder 143 a distance approximately the thicknessof the material of web 15 and, in its vertical length, knife 146 is thesame as or greater than the width of web 15. As may be seen on FIG. 11,for each revolution of cylinder 143, knife 146 cuts a length of the webto form a label blank 18. After the transverse cut is made by knife 146,the vacuum ports 140 continue to pull the web and as the forward ports,such as shown opposite 137a, passes the line of cut, the second vacuumports, opposite 137b, are pulling on the web. At such time as the vacuumports are opposite the position shown at 137d, the knife has againrevolved into a cutting position and the forward end of the web, now theleading end of a label blank 18, is engaged onto the cylinder surface ofa mandrel 149. As this end of the blank engages the mandrel surface,vacuum ports 140 opposite the passage 137d are disconnected from thevacuum in chamber 136. Label blank 18 is now under control of mandrel149, as will be presently described.

The feed drum 121 and rotary cutter 142 are driven synchronously throughthe intermeshing gears 130 and 131.

MANDREL TURRET

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 19 and 20, the mandrel turret issupported on four vertical frame members 150A-D supporting an X-shapedtop plate 151. On the underside of top plate 151, a circular vacuummanifold 152 is fastened in stationary position on a box spacer 153. Avertical turret shaft 154 is supported in end bearing 155 mounted inplate 151 and extends through a center opening in box spacer 153 andmanifold 152. The lower end of shaft 154 is supported in bearing 156held in frame deck 31. A bull gear 157 is drivably fastened onto thelower end of shaft 154 below deck 31, and gear 157 is in mesh with adrive gear 158 on the power output shaft 159 of drive transmission 160.Power input shaft 161 of transmission 160 is driven by chain drive 162from a main electric drive motor 163.

Intermediate the end bearings, shaft 154 has an elongated verticalrotatable tube 164 connected to the shaft and rotating in bushings 165and 166. A cylindrical journal 167 supports the bushings and includes alateral arm 168 bolted onto the vertical leg of the L-bracket 169 weldedonto deck 31. This provides a stationary support on the frame for theair heater manifold 170, later described herein. Spider hub 171 iswelded at the top end of tube 164, and circular spider 172 is boltedonto the hub 171. The several mandrel unit assemblies are supported in acircular arrangement on spider 172.

THE MANDREL ASSEMBLY

Each of the mandrel assemblies is constructed similarly (FIGS. 4, 9 and19). A pinion gear 173 is keyed onto spindle shaft 174 which isrotatable on ball bearings 175 and 176 retained by the journal box 177on spider 172. Mandrel cylinder 149 is fastened over the lower end ofshaft 174 and retained by the end hub seal 178 and bolt 179 threaded inthe central passage 180 of shaft 174, the bolt 179 sealing passage 180at the lower end of the spindle. Passage 180 connects to the annularslot 181 on the periphery of spindle shaft 174 into an annular chamber182 formed by the enlargement of the bored wall 183 on the lower end ofmandrel extending from the internal annular shoulder 184 to the internalend wall of hub seal 178. Plural axial parallel slots 185a are cut alongthe peripheral surface of the mandrel wall (FIGS. 9 and 18). Radialports 185 are disposed along an axial line in the wall of mandrel 149,and each connects with the several slots 185a (FIG. 18). The slots 185aare milled in the wall of mandrel 149 to provide the plural, thin,elongated, grid-like openings through which the vacuum is pulled againstthe surface of the label blank that is being wound on the mandrel wall.Vacuum applied by the structure just described is preferred because ofthe advantages of increased holding force on the blank 18 and surfacedeformation of the material in the blank is virtually eliminated.

In upper journal box 177, an annular seal sleeve 186 is mounted on shaft174 in stationary position and is retained between the bearings 175,176. Sleeve 186 includes an annular interior groove 187 providing apassage connection to the central passage 180 of the shaft through thelateral leg 188 bored in the shaft. Vacuum is connected to annulargroove 187 by hose 189 (FIG. 4), which extends to the rotor plate 190 ofthe vacuum manifold 152. Rotor plate 190 is mounted onto the spider 172by lower annular member 191 welded thereto. Each hose 189 is connectedonto the right angle port 192 which opens onto the lower facingstationary manifold 152 in alignment with the arcuate manifold channel193 formed therein with an open side facing down against the top surfaceof rotor 190. The vacuum is connected into channel 193 from a sourcepiped to the machine at conduit 194 connected to vertical port 195 inmanifold 152. The arcuate extent of channel 193 is shown on FIG. 6 andextends in the rotary path of the turret spanning the winding cycle ofthe label blanks about the mandrel.

The winding cycle of each of mandrels 149 is controlled by an endlesspositive, two-sided cam 196 fastened on the underside of top plate 151of the turret frame. Cam follower 197 runs in the track of cam 196 andis rotatably connected on crank arm 198 of the bell-crank 199. Thecantilevered arm 200 is attached on the top side of the journal box 177(FIG. 19). Pivot shaft 201 is assembled in the bushing 202 for pivotallymounting the gear segment 203 with bell crank 199. Gear 203 is fastenedto the hub of bell-crank 199 by cap screw 204. The teeth of gear segment203 are in mesh with the teeth of pinion 173 on spindle shaft 174.

BLANK WINDING CONTROL GUIDE

At the label transfer station whereat the label blank 18 is transferredfrom the feed drum onto the surface of the mandrel, the leading end ofthe blank being held by vacuum at the mandrel ports 185a, therectilinear strip of material (the blank) is wound by the mandrel as ittravels forward away from the feed drum. During this winding, the freetrailing portion (tail) of the blank is guided and controlled by windingguide device 215. Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7, device 215preferably comprises a hollow box chamber comprised of top wall 216,bottom wall 217 and a curved rear side wall 218. The front face of thedevice is arcuate and corresponds to the arc of the circular path themandrels describe in travel past guide 215. The front of device 215 isperforated, or as shown, comprises plural, parallel, horizontallydisposed and vertically spaced plates or slats 219 providing on theirouter edges 220 a guide surface for engaging the radially outwardlyfacing surface of a blank 18 as the mandrel carries it along thissurface. Slats 219 are welded to the side wall 218 near the oppositeends of the chamber. A conduit 221 is connected to side wall 218 at stubpipe 222 therein. Conduit 221 is connected to a source of negativepressure (not shown); for example, an exhaust fan for moving air in thedirection of the arrows on FIGS. 4 and 7.

The box chamber is mounted at the proper elevation on the machine forengaging the blanks on the mandrels by arcuate bracket 223 bolted at aflat angle plate 224 onto vertical column 150A of the machine frame.Referring to FIG. 3, it may be seen that during travel of a mandrel 149from a tangent relationship with feed drum 121 toward the near end ofdevice 215, the cut blank 18 is drawn from the face of drum 121. As themandrel is opposite the guide face 220 of the guide, the free tailportion of the blank not yet wound on the mandrel surface is drawnagainst guide face 220 by the outward flow of air (suction) in thechamber of guide device 215. During the remaining travel of the mandrelalong the arcuate guide face 220, any portion of the blank not on themandrel is held in flat position against the face 220. As may be seen onFIG. 3, the latter two mandrels along the aft portion of the guidesurface have the trailing end portion of the blank held on the guideface 220 as the leading end of the blank approaches an overlappingposition at the guide face 220 by the winding rotation of the mandrel.This creates for a limited period a gap in the overlapping ends of theblank between the inside surface of the trailing end and the outsidesurface of the leading end thereof. Heat is applied by the hot airnozzle tip 221 directed along the height of the blank. When the twosurfaces approach the melting point of the material, the mandrelcompletes the winding of the overlapped ends into surface engagementwith one another and the overlap is now approximately on the guide face220 (see last mandrel 149 at the position opposite stub pipe 222 on FIG.3).

SLEEVE SEAM HEATING DEVICE

On FIGS. 1-4 and 18 a heater means is illustrated comprising a hollow,angled heat nozzle 210 terminating in an elongated narrow band slot 211at the tip of nozzle 210. There is a heat nozzle 211 at each of themandrel assemblies. A cylindrical hollow casing member 212 is rigidlyconnected to the underside of rotary spider 172 for mounting mandrels149 (FIG. 4). Casing 212 has its central axis coaxial with center shaft154 of the machine. Nozzles 210 are fastened in a radially dependingfashion on the outer surface of casing 212 and in communication with theradial ports 213 extending through the wall of casing 212. All of theports 213 are at the same elevation so that they come into communicationwith the stationary outlet head of heating element 170. As shown onFIGS. 2 and 3, heating element head 170 includes an arcuate face 170asealingly in contact with the inner wall of casing 212. The heat issupplied to head 170 by hot air pipes 214 connected from a hot airsource into the lower stem pipe 170b of the heater. Hot air exits pipe170b at the top and is radially directed over the arcuate span of theradial manifold chamber 170c of the heating element. During rotation ofthe casing 212 past chamber 170c, heat via hot air is conducted througha port 213 and into the body of nozzle 210 issuing under some pressureat the narrow long band tip 211. As shown on FIGS. 2 and 3, heat isapplied by tip 211 onto the interface gap of the material about to beoverlapped on the mandrel 149 at the sleeve seam. The duration of heatapplication is established by the rotary speed of the turret and therotary displacement duration of a port 213 in communication with thearcuate span of manifold chamber 170 c on the heater head 170. Theheater unit 170 is preferably operated at hot air temperature on theorder of about 300°-500° F in treating a web of foamed polystyrene ofabout 0.015 inch thickness. Heat is applied by nozzle tip 211 as a puffof hot air under slight positive pressure for a duration of between 0.1and 0.2 seconds. This will satisfactorily heat the overlapping endportions of the interfacing label blank wound on the mandrel for heatsealing them together and bond this material at a vertical sleeve seam Sindicated on FIGS. 28-29 and 31-32. The amount of overlap is shown bythe portion of longitudinal dimension S' on FIG. 21.

SEAM PRESSING ROLL

After the wrapped and joined blank is in sleeve form, the mandrel leavesthe arcuate guide face 220 of the winding control device 215 and almostimmediately thereafter, the mandrel passes against a press or sealroller 225 which presses the two hot overlapped surfaces (seam S)together and produces a firm seal of the material at this seam S.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4 and 8, seal roll 225 has a rubber peripheralsurface and is pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft 226 extending intoswing arm 227. Swing arm 227 is pivotally mounted on bracket 228 bypivot pin 229. Bracket 228 is rigidly affixed to the vertical column150B of the machine frame. An inwardly dependent leg 230 of bracket 228has a threaded slide rod 231 extending through leg 230 and retained by anut 232. A circular retainer member 233 is threaded on rod 231 foradjusting the tension exerted by the coil spring 234 that is compressedagainst leg 230 at its one end and the face of retainer 233 at theother. The other end of rod 231 has a clip 235 connected to the swingarm 227 at the slotted projection 236.

It may be seen that seal roll 225 is positioned slightly into the orbitpath of mandrels 149 and yieldable on the spring mounting justdescribed. Mandrel 149 is oriented at the point of meshing contactbetween the wrapped label 18 thereon and roll 225 such that theoverlapped end portions will momentarily engage the rubber surface ofroller 225. As the mandrel orbits past roller 225, the pivot mountingfor the latter allows arm 227 to bump slightly away from the mandrelagainst the yielding pressure in that direction exerted by the springassembly 231, 233, 234. This kissing action of the roller on theoverlapped blank firmly presses the seam S of the label sleeve andproduces a proper seal.

MANDREL CYCLE

Referring to FIG. 6, the endless path of cam 196 surrounds the centershaft 154 of the machine, the major part of the cam path being shown inphantom outline. During rotation of the turret (spider 172), camfollower 197, a part of each mandrel assembly, is moved along cam track196. The path of the pivot pin 201 and mandrel spindle 174 is circular,shown by the path N on FIG. 6. The path of cam 196 is labelled, on FIG.6, as the dashed orbital line. The mandrels orbit clockwise aboutmachine center shaft 154 in path N. At the position shown in the upperpart of FIG. 6, gear segment 203 is moved to its furthermost counterclockwise position, which it retains until the mandrel approaches thereferenced 90° position, whereupon the cam path 196 begins to move, withrespect to path N, so that gear 203 is actuated clockwise setting themandrel into rotation. Upon reaching position B, mandrel position hasbeen adjusted by rotation for picking up a label blank at the transferpoint. At reference B₂, blank transfer begins at which time the arcuatevacuum manifold chamber 193 is connected with the mandrel to applyvacuum at the peripheral ports 185 of the mandrel (FIG. 9). Thiscorresponds with the rotational location on the turret of the transferstation (FIGS. 3 and 11) whereat the leading edge or end of the labelblank 18 is transferred onto and held on a mandrel 149. At reference B₃cam path 196 imparts winding rotation to the mandrel. This rotation istransmitted by gear segment 203 which imparts approximately a fullrevolution by the time reference line C₁ is reached. At about thislocation, mandrel rotation stops. Correspondingly, the wound label onthe mandrel is heated at the opposite ends and overlapped in orbitaltravel between reference C₂, C₃ and D₁. While mandrel rotation isstopped in orbital travel between reference D₂ and E₁, the overlappedseam portion of the label is moved past the seal roller for completingthe sleeve's vertical seam. The quiescent state of the mandrel rotationcontinues past reference E₃, whereat the sleeve is stripped verticallydownwardly from the mandrel and over the registered bottle underneath,in a manner to be presently described. Between reference E₃ and the 90°point, the gear segment 203 is reset to begin another cycle.

LABEL STRIPPING AND ASSEMBLY

Once the label sleeve is formed on the mandrel, it is strippeddownwardly onto a bottle to assembled position for heat contraction. Thestripping occurs after the bottle is brought into a pocket 40, 41 (FIG.8) of the bottle positioning wheel by the feed star wheel 35.

Since the turret machine includes the rigid connection of bottlepositioning wheel 38, 39 and the upper spider 172 (FIG. 4), pockets 40,41 for the bottle are always in vertical, axial alignment with a mandrel149 of the mandrel assembly. Therefore, orientation of the bottles bystar wheel 35 will place the bottles into an axially registered positionon the turret when seated in pockets 40, 41. This occurs atapproximately reference line E₂ (FIG. 2). Thereafter, the sleeve label18 is stripped axially downwardly over the bottle 10 and cap 11 by thehereinafter described device.

Referring to FIGS. 9, 19 and 20, each mandrel unit includes atelescopically arranged C-shaped stripper collar 240, normally carriedin the retracted, uppermost position shown on FIG. 9. Collar 240 isattached at its lateral boss 245 to one end of a linkage comprised ofvertical link 241 and crank link 243 by pivot pin 242. Link 241 is pinconnected at its opposite end to the movable end of horizontal cranklink 243 by a lateral pivot pin 244. The other end of link 243 ispivotally connected by a pivot pin 247 to a projecting boss 246 that isanchored firmly on the mandrel column (FIG. 9). The crank link 243includes a laterally projecting boss 248 intermediate its ends which hasa cam roller 249 pivoted thereon by a roller pin 250. Cam roller 249runs in cam track 251 which is an endless (circular) horizontal cam pathextending around the turret of the machine FIG. 9 and FIGS. 1-3). Cam251 rises and falls vertically, as illustrated somewhat schematically onFIG. 20, for driving the collar 240 on the mandrels between lowered(stripping) and raised (inactive) positions. Cam 251 normally carriesroller 249 along a raised path (FIG. 19) as is also indicated at theextreme ends of FIG. 20. The mandrels move from right-to-left on FIG.20. After the label sleeve 18 is formed on the mandrel 149, (right-handposition, FIG. 20), and bottle 10 is registered axially with the mandrel(as shown), cam track 251 descends to the position shown in the centerof FIG. 20. Cam roller 249, following the cam contour, pivots crank link243 downwardly (counter clockwise) driving vertical link 241 downwardly.This propels C-shaped collar 240 axially along mandrel 149 from itsinactive, raised position to its lowered sleeve stripping position,pushing the label sleeve 18 in that direction and eventuallytelescopically encircling the bottle neck and cap skirt thereby, asshown in the middle of FIG. 20. This is the assembled position for theshrinkable label sleeve on the bottle and cap. The assembly of sleeve,bottle, etc. is then ready to be transferred through the third andfourth star wheels 45, 48 and onto conveyor 53 by which it is carried tothe heating unit 54. With further movement (left-to-right), cam track251 raises, picking up roller 249 and raising C-shaped stripping collar240 to the raised, inactive position for the next cycle. The operationof stripper collar in moving the label sleeve from the mandrel onto thebottle occurs in the rotation of the turret between the reference linesE₂ and A on FIG. 6.

The cam track 251 is circular and fabricated onto the inside facings ofthe machine frame vertical columns 150A-D (FIG. 1) by the threadedmachine screws 260 extending through horizontal slots 261 on a backingplate 262 and into threads on cam member 251. The elongated slots 261 inthe frame backing plate 262 allow a circumferential adjustment of thecam 251 with respect to the turret for advancing or retardingadjustments in the timing of sleeve stripping.

ADHESIVE APPLICATION

As was mentioned earlier, the pilfer-proof feature of the label on thebottle is enhanced by attaching the lower label sleeve portion below thescore line 84 onto the neck surface of the bottle for preventingmovement of the label on the bottle relative to any movement of theclosure. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 24, the sleeve is attached to thebottle by adhesive that is issued in a spot or gob onto the neck area asthe bottle is traveling into the star wheel 24 on the infeed conveyor21. The adhesive is preferably a tacky or pressure-sensitive type ofadhesive that will be operable upon the shrinking of the sleeve labelover the region of the adhesive, the shrinking being a firm grippingaction on the area treated with the adhesive material. One example ofadhesive mentioned earlier herein in the aqueous emulsion type whichdries to a tacky condition at the time the label is applied to thebottle. The adhesive is supplied to the storage vat of the control unit268 which contains a pulse-pump and control. The adhesive is fed intothe hose 267 connected to a glue gun nozzle 265. Nozzle 265 is supportedin position opposite a neck area of the bottle by a vertical supportstand 266. The unit described is conventional equipment, which includesa conventional photocell and light beam combination spaced across thewidth of conveyor 21, the control light beam being tripped (broken) bythe front edge of the bottle as it approaches a pocket of the first starwheel 24. As the bottle trips the photo-electric control circuit. thevalve of the glue gun operates to fire a quantity or spot 269 ofadhesive at the bottle surface opposite the nozzle 265 of the glue gun.Each bottle is treated, as shown schematically on the series of FIGS.24-26. After the sleeve label is telescopically placed over the adhesivespot 269 (FIG. 25) and the label is heated in the heater unit 54 (FIG.26), the shrinkage of the label into surface engagement forms anadhesive bond between the surface of the bottle neck 14 and the interiorsurface of the applied label 18.

MACHINE DRIVE

The power drive for the bottle handling, the turret, the web handlingand processing and the web feeding mechanisms is shown schematically onFIG. 5. A synchronous electric main drive motor 163 is drivinglyconnected by power transmission means 162 (belt or chain) at the inputshaft 161 of the power transmission 160. The output shaft 159 of thetransmission is connected to drive gear 158 in mesh with machine bullgear 157 which rotatably drives the turret of the machine and operatesthe mandrels 149 in their orbital path about the shaft 154. Transmissiondrive gear 158 also meshes with a gear 270 on the shaft 132 of therotary knife assembly for rotating the cylinder 143. The directions ofrotation of the elements of the machine, schematically shown, areindicated by the arrows on FIG. 5. Gear 131 of the rotary knife is inmesh with gear 130 on shaft 122 of feed drum 121. Power is transmittedfrom gear 130 to the shaft 108 through its gear 273 by a cooperatingpair of idler gears 271 and 272. The power transmitted to the shaft 108operates the rotary pleating roll 106. Shaft 108 is also the input shaftof a standard PIV (positive infinitely variable) transmission unit 274having an indexing gear 275. The rotation of gear 275 inside thetransmission unit 274 in either direction will advance or retard thephase position of output shaft 280. Gear 275 is controlled by anindexing control motor 278 operated by manual control 279.

Power output of the transmission 274 at shaft 280 is transmitted by agear 281 in mesh with gear 105 on the pull rolls 98. Roll 98 operateswith roll 86 through gear 104 in mesh with gear 105 for pulling the web15 through the knife device 68 and moving the web into the pleatingrolls 106 and 107 establishing the speed and phase position of the webonto the feed drum 121.

The conveyors 21 and 53 for infeed of the bottles to the turret machineand outfeed of the bottles therefrom and through heating unit 54 arepowered by their separate electric drive motors (not shown) at a speedcompatable with the machine production rate. For this purpose theconveyors may be operated at a synchronous speed as a "slave" off themain drive motor 163, which establishes the production rate of themachine. The powered star wheels 24, 35, 45 and 48 are synchronouslyoperated by known suitable powered transmission means (not shown).

As may be seen from the description of the machine, the inventionprovides a method of making a labelled, pilfer-proof container by aseries of steps comprised of providing a web of a preprinted, heatshrinkable organic thermoplastic material of predetermined width andthickness. The web is scored lengthwise at a predetermined lateralposition thereon to form a running score line in the form of apartial-depth slit corresponding to a predetermined height location onthe labels formed from the web. At about the same time, the web isprovided with transverse pleats at spaced apart intervals of its lengthbut less than a label length of the material. Lengths are cut from theweb to make label blanks, each blank having plural transverse pleatsthereon. The label blanks are each wrapped on a mandrel with the scoreline extending circumferentially of the mandrel and the score linesurface of the web placed adjacent the mandrel surface so that the scoreline is not readily visible at the outside facing surface of the labelwrapped on the mandrel. The plural pleats on the label extend generallyin an axial direction of the label on the mandrel. The ends of the labelblank are overlapped as the blank is wound around the mandrel and theoverlapping ends joined to each other by heat applied at their openinterface before joining. The heat welds the ends together as a seam andthe seam is pressed by contact with a roller means. The sleeve label isstripped axially and downwardly from the mandrel over the top end of acontainer in underlying coaxial alignment with the mandrel. In theinstance of the example of this disclosure, the container is a bottlewith a screw cap on the neck end thereof and the sleeve is axiallypositioned thereon such that the circumferential internal score line ofthe label sleeve is adjacent the annular lower terminal edge of the cap.The label sleeve fits relatively loosely over the cap skirt and bottleneck. The label sleeve is then heated sufficiently to shrink it intosnug surface engagement with the bottle neck and cap skirt, the pleatsin the label sleeve containing any wrinkling that may occur to provide agood quality shrunken label. The label may be adhesively affixed to theneck of the bottle, whereby unscrewing movement of the cap will severthe label along the score line and separate the label into upper andlower portions, the lower portion being affixed to the neck of thebottle. Such severing of the label will provide visual indication thatthe bottle has been opened (pilfered).

The apparatus and method of the invention provide for applying heatshrinkable materials onto the neck, shoulder and cap contours of a coldcontainer in a practical and efficient manner at production ratesresulting in a satisfactory label and/or pilfer-proof covering on acontainer.

Having described a preferred embodiment or embodiments of the invention,other and further modifications thereof may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. The method of labelling containers each having aclosure applied on one end thereof, comprisingproviding a web ofpreprinted, heat shrinkable, organic thermoplastic material, formingtransverse pleats across the width of the web at spaced intervals alongthe length of the web, cutting lengths of said material from the web toform label blanks, each of the blanks having plural transverse pleatsthereon, wrapping each of said blanks on a mandrel, overlapping theleading and trailing ends of the blank on the mandrel and bonding theoverlapped ends together to form a seamed sleeve, the sleeve having saidpleats disposed on either side of the said seam thereof, placing thesleeve over a container with a closure thereon, the sleeve beingpositioned to encircle a portion of the container adjacent the closureand the closure, and heating the label sleeve sufficiently to shrink itinto snug surface engagement with said container and closure and therebyisolate any wrinkles at said pleats.
 2. The method of making andapplying a label of a preprinted heat shrinkable, cellular, polymericmaterial for a bottle having a neck and a mouth opening at the outer endthereof, and a cap secured thereon, the cap closing the bottle andincluding a top portion and an annular skirt portion, comprising thesteps of:providing a web of preprinted label stock of said cellularmaterial, said web having a width dimension substantially the axialheight of the label to be applied onto the bottle, cutting a length ofsaid material from the web to form a label blank that exceeds thelargest peripheral dimension of said bottle neck and closure, prior toforming said blank, forming plural pleats across the width of the web,said pleats occurring at spaced intervals in the label blank, the pleatsbeing spaced from the ends of the blank, overlapping the opposite endsof the blank to provide a sleeve having an internal size that may bereadily telescopically assembled over the cap skirt and bottle neck,joining the overlapped end portions of the blank to each other byapplying heat and pressure to such end portions to form an axiallyseamed sleeve, encircling the cap skirt and neck portion of the bottlewith said sleeve, and heating the shrinkable cellular material of saidsleeve sufficiently to shrink it into snug fitting engagement with saidcap skirt and said neck portion of the bottle, whereby, in shrinking thesleeve label, surface wrinkles in the labels are localized at saidpleated regions of the label enhancing the appearance thereof.
 3. Themethod of making a labelled, pilfer-proof bottle having a neck portionand mouth opening at one end thereof comprised of the steps of:providinga web of preprinted, heat shrinkable organic thermoplastic material,scoring the web lengthwise thereof to form a score line corresponding toa predetermined height location thereon for labels made therefrom,forming plural transverse pleats across the width of the web at spacedintervals less than a label blank length along the length of the web,cutting lengths of said material from the web to form label blanks, eachof said blanks having plural transverse pleats thereon, wrapping each ofsaid blanks on a mandrel, with the score line extendingcircumferentially of the mandrel, and plural transverse pleats thereonextending axially of said mandrel, overlapping the leading and trailingends of the blanks on the mandrel and bonding them to each other to forman axially seamed sleeve, said pleats being disposed on either side ofthe seam thereof, placing the sleeve over a bottle having a skirtedclosure applied over the mouth opening and closing the one end of thebottle, the sleeve encircling the neck of the bottle and said closurethereon and axially positioned such that the circumferential score lineis adjacent the annular terminal edge of the closure skirt, and heatingthe material of the sleeve sufficiently to shrink it into snug surfaceengagement with said bottle neck and closure and thereby contain anywrinkles at said pleats.
 4. The method of making a pilfer-proof packagecomprised of the steps of:providing a web of heat shrinkable organicthermoplastic material, scoring the web lengthwise thereof to form apartial depth slit in the web to provide a predetermined weakened linetherein that extends along the length dimension thereof and disposedlaterally in the web corresponding to a predetermined height location inlabels to be made therefrom, cutting lengths of said material from theweb to form label blanks, wrapping each of said blanks on a mandrel,with said slit adjacent the mandrel and extending circumferentially ofthe mandrel, overlapping the leading and trailing ends of the blanks onthe mandrel and heat sealing them together to form an axially seamedlabel sleeve, applying pressure to the heat sealed seam on the mandrel,placing the label sleeve over a bottle having a skirted closure closingone end thereof, the label sleeve encircling the neck of the bottle andclosure and axially positioned thereon such that the circumferentialslit is located adjacent the annular terminal edge of the closure skirt,and heating the material of the label sleeve sufficiently to shrink itinto annular snug surface engagement with said bottle neck and closureproviding a surface conforming, pilfer detecting label thereon.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, including the step of attaching the shrunken labelsleeve portion below said circumferential slit onto the bottle byinterposing an adhesive between the bottle surface and the inner surfaceof said sleeve portion before heating the sleeve, whereupon saidadhesive holds the lower sleeve portion in place after shrinkingpreventing movement thereof on said bottle relative to movement of theclosure on the bottle, the movement of the closure relative to thebottle severing the label circumferentially at the annular weakened lineof said slit.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the label sleeve isattached to the neck of the bottle by applying an adhesive on an outersurface portion of said bottle prior to the step of placing theunshrunken sleeve thereover.
 7. A method of applying a tamper-proofpreprinted label to the neck and closure of a bottle comprising thesteps of:forming plural pleats along the width dimension of a strip of aheat shrinkable, cellular, organic thermoplastic material, forming apartial-depth slit in the strip to provide a predetermined weakened linein said strip that extends along the length dimension thereof, wrappingthe strip in the lengthwise dimension with the opposite end portionsthereof overlapping each other and handling bonding said end portions toeach other to provide an axially seamed sleeve, placing said sleeve overthe neck and closure of a bottle so that said slit is disposed adjacentthe lowermost edge of the closure, and shrinking the sleeve by applyingheat thereto for fixing the sleeve to said neck and closure of saidbottle, whereby subsequent tampering of the bottle is visually indicatedby severance of the label along said slit.